SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH Mycoplasma gallisepticum IN COMMERCIAL BROILER FARMS IN PUTALIBAZAR MUNICIPALITY OF SYANGJA DISTRICT

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and its associated risk factors in commercial broiler farms in Putalibazar municipality of Syangja district

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods and methodology: Questionnaire survey was conducted to take demographic data like age, size of flock, knowledge of CRD, antibiotic use, water treatment and source of water for analysis of these factors as risk factors. A total of 360 sera samples (20 from each farm) were collected purposively from chickens belonging to 18 farms. All sera samples were examined by rapid serum plate agglutination (SPA) test using commercial MG antigens to determine the presence of MG specific antibodies in the respective birds. The data were entered, graphical representation and tabulation were done in MS–Excel and data analysis was done by an online application called Epitool version 3.01 (Open Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Health) where risk factors were analyzed by chi-square test at 95% confidence level.

Result: The overall prevalence of Mycoplasma infection was recorded as 58.88%. The seroprevalence of MG in younger flock (58.33%) has been significantly higher (p<0.05) in comparison to older flocks (38%). The prevalence has been lower (49.44%) where antibiotic has been administered than in the farms where antibacterial medication has not been done (p<0.05). Similarly, statistically significant lesser prevalence (48.33%) of disease has been obtained in farms where owners are aware of the disease. The prevalence has been found to be higher in use of untreated water (59.37%), and in use of stream water (60.83%) than tap water, even though the values are statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Considering the flock size statistically significant higher prevalence of MG infection was found in the flock up to 500 birds (64%) than the flock larger than 500 birds (51%).

Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that considerable amount of Mycoplasma gallisepticum antisera are circulating in the farms and hence considerable controlling measures should be followed.